Friday, August 1, 2014

July 2014 Over 5,000 Casualties In Iraq

Iraq saw nearly 5,500 casualties in July 2014. That was down
from June, but that was to be expected as fighting has settled down a bit. The
insurgency is still carrying out attacks across the country and laying siege to
several cities, while the government continues with futile security operations.
As the Iraqi security forces have lost more ground they have increasingly
turned to indiscriminate attacks upon civilian areas and militias, which are
carrying out sectarian killings. There was also an uprising by followers of
Mahmoud Hassani Sarkhi in southern Iraq at the beginning of the month. With
insurgents set on restarting fighting in Baghdad the current situation could actually
get worse in coming weeks.

July saw 2,195 killed and 3,276 wounded. That was made up of
1,681 civilian, 426 Iraqi Security Forces, 28 Sahwa, and 60 Peshmerga
fatalities and 2,339 civilian, 738 ISF, 24 Sahwa, and 175 Peshmerga injuries. That
was below June’s figures of 2,822 dead and 3,483 wounded. Salahaddin was the
deadliest province last month with 503 deaths, followed by 460 in Baghdad, and
446 in Anbar. So far there have been 6,653 security incidents reported in the
press resulting in 12,304 killed and 20,581 wounded this year.

Reported Security
Incidents In Iraq 2014

Month

Incidents

Deaths

ISF/Sahwa/

Peshmerga/

Asayesh

Deaths

Civilian

Deaths

Wounded

ISF/Sahwa/

Peshmerga

Asayesh

Wounded

Civilians

Wounded

Jan

1,014

1,483

427 ISF

69 Sahwa

2 Asayesh

985

2,880

646 ISF

48 Sahwa

2,186

Feb

945

1,274

516 ISF

58 Sahwa

2 Peshmerga

698

2,526

702 ISF

93 Sahwa

3 Peshmerga

1,728

Mar

996

1,606

567 ISF

48 Sahwa

2 Asayesh

989

2,901

631 ISF

57 Sahwa

1 Asayesh

2,212

Apr

999

1,456

538 ISF

46 Sahwa

1 Asayesh

871

2,905

806 ISF

53 Sahwa

5 Peshmerga

1 Asayesh

2,040

May

904

1,468

506 ISF

77 Sahwa

1 Peshmerga

884

2,610

719 ISF

50 Sahwa

1,841

Jun

877

2,822

815 ISF

31 Sahwa

62 Peshmerga

1,914

3,483

560 ISF

47 Sahwa

194 Peshmerga

1 Asayesh

2,681

Jul

918

2,195

426 ISF

28 Sahwa

60 Peshmerga

1,681

3,276

738 ISF

24 Sahwa

175 Peshmerga

2,339

TOTAL

6,653

12,304

3,795 ISF

357 Sahwa

125 Peshmerga

3 Asayesh

8,022

20,581

4,802 ISF

372 Sahwa

377 Peshmerga

3 Asayesh

12,841

Security operations like the two launched in Babil's Jurf al-Sakhr in July have proven futile as insurgents move in right after the army and police leave (Reuters)

The security situation across the provinces stabilized in
July. There were no more insurgent sweeps across vast territory. Instead the
militants laid siege to several major cities. Starting in Anbar, the insurgents
were able to expand
their hold upon Ramadi by spreading from the southern sections into the
western half. The government responded by sending 4,000
volunteers to the city. These volunteers are receiving hardly
any training and there are reports that they are barely armed or supplied begging
the question of why they are being sent into high conflict areas like Ramadi. Militants
also laid siege to Haditha. The ISF responded by announcing security operations
inside
and out of Ramadi on July
15 with the support of friendly tribes, along with Garma
east of Fallujah and Saqlawiya
to the west that included
the Badr Brigade and militiamen from the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq. These
are all areas that the ISF has cleared several times before. In Babil the
security forces launched two more
campaigns in Jurf al-Sakhr in the northern section of the province even though
government spokesman General
Qasim Atta and the governor
claimed the area was safe at the beginning of the month. Like in Anbar these
operations included
militiamen from the League of the Righteous, Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas, and the Hezbollah Brigades along
with 500
volunteers. Three days after the first security operation it was reported
that the Islamic State had moved
right back into the area leading to the second campaign towards the
end of the month. When the security forces move in the IS fighters shift over to eastern Anbar,
and then return to Babil when the ISF and their allies leave showing the
futility of the government’s strategy. Of course that did not stop the Babil Operations
Command claiming
success again at the end of the month. In a similar situation the ISF
claimed that Latifiya farther north in Babil towards Baghdad was
cleared, only to have intense fighting break out there
immediately afterward. That showed that the IS has actually been able to expand
its base of operations in the governorate. This same pattern is being repeated
across the country. In July the ISF said it cleared Mansuriya,
Muqtadiya,
and the Hamrin
Mountains in Diyala, and the Hawija district of Kirkuk.
Like in Babil, as soon as these operations were over the militants moved right
back in. Even more concerted military efforts like the attempt to retake Tikrit
were stymied. With great fanfare the government announced that it had re-entered
the Salahaddin provincial capital in the middle of July. In fact, the ISF drive
was turned back by snipers,
IEDs
laid along the major highways, and suicide
bombers. In turn, the insurgents tried to take the Speicher
base outside of the city and the Baiji refinery, but failed showing that there
is a rough stalemate in Salahaddin. In a more important development several
local tribes fought the insurgents in places like Hawija in Kirkuk and Dhuluiya
and several other
small villages in Salahaddin. The government has not adequately supported
these groups and many sheikhs find themselves standing alone against the
militants. In the south from July 2-4 followers of Mahmoud Hassani Sarkhi, a
breakaway cleric from the Sadr movement, rose up in Qadisiyah and Karbala.
According to the press at least 160 of them were killed or
wounded as their revolt was put down. Finally, in Ninewa, which is mostly under
insurgent control IS has strengthened its hold over the population. The destruction of shrines and the driving
out of Christians has been well documented. The Islamic State has gone
after other groups as well, carried out executions, and destroyed people’s
homes in the province. On July 2 30
Shabak from the town of Omar Kan were kidnapped. July 10-11
21 people were
taken away in Mosul, another twenty from that city on July 27, and eight
more on July 30. Their fate is unknown but they were probably executed as 10
bodies were found in Kokjla on July 14. The group has continued with its
long time practice of blowing up the homes of members of the security forces as
happened on July 12 when 20
policeman’s houses were destroyed with IEDs in Hamam al-Aleel. These
actions all belie reports that the Islamic State is leaving Mosul for other
groups. Instead it appears that the city will be the capital of its caliphate. July
shows that while the insurgent charge has been blunted it still holds the
initiative. It is largely choosing where and when engagements happen and it is
attacking several cities and towns throughout the center of the country. The
government even with the help of thousands of volunteers and the militias are
still carrying out fruitless security campaigns in reaction to the militants. Baghdad’s
inability to hold any Sunni territory means that it will not be able to reverse
the current situation any time soon.

The Islamic State has increased its hold over Ninewa province kidnapping people, murdering them, destroying shrines, and driving out not only Christians but other minority groups like Shabaks as well

Security Incidents By
Province July 2014

Province

Incidents

Dead

Wounded

Anbar

147

446

311 Civilians

127 ISF

8 Sahwa

854

756 Civilians

90 ISF

8 Sahwa

Babil

53

168

126 Civilians

42 ISF

300

132 Civilians

168 ISF

Baghdad

228

460

387 Civilians

71 ISF

2 Sahwa

848

729 Civilians

115 ISF

4 Sahwa

Basra

11

24

24 Civilians

16

16 Civilians

Dhi Qar

1

1

1 Civilian

4

4 Civilians

Diyala

150

263

181 Civilians

35 ISF

41 Peshmerga

6 Sahwa

279

92 Civilians

87 ISF

8 Sahwa

92 Peshmerga

Karbala

3

128

3 ISF

125 Civilians

70

35 ISF

35 Civilians

Kirkuk

63

113

97 Civilians

4 ISF

12 Peshmerga

242

145 Civilians

26 ISF

71 Peshmerga

Najaf

1

Ninewa

80

89

78 Civilians

4 ISF

7 Peshmerga

197

185 Civilians

12 Peshmerga

Qadisiyah

3

Salahaddin

178

503

351 Civilians

140 ISF

12 Sahwa

466

245 Civilians

217 ISF

4 Sahwa

The aftermath of a car bomb in Baghdad's Jihad July 19 (EFE/EPA)

The Islamic State (IS) has changed its use of car bombs in
recent months. In July there were 42 Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices
(VBIEDs) the lowest monthly total of the year. There were 17 in Baghdad, 7 in
Anbar and Salahaddin each, 3 in Babil, Diyala, and Kirkuk each, and 2 in Basra.
The attacks in Baghdad and Basra were aimed at rekindling sectarian tensions
with Shiites. On July 7, 19 and 22 the Kadhimiya neighborhood in Baghdad was
hit, which is the home a Shiite shrine. More importantly IS is using VBIEDs
more as a tactical weapon. Hence Samarra faced two car bombs on July 15 and
another on July 29. That city is on the frontline in the fighting in
Salahaddin. Because of this change in emphasis VBIEDs are not coming in their
traditional waves that they did before, but are occurring in longer stretches
with at least one bombing a day from July 14 to 22.

The government is causing its fare share of casualties as
well. This started in Anbar, but has now spread to Salahaddin, Diyala, and
Ninewa. From January to July 999 people have been killed and 2,685 wounded in
shelling in Anbar. The vast majority of these occurred in Fallujah, but in July
Qaim, Garma, and Rawa were also hit. There were also 15 fatalities and 20
injured in Salahaddin last month from mortar and artillery fire. Iraqi Army air
strikes killed another 124 and wounded 285 in those four provinces. As the ISF
has lost more territory to the insurgency it has turned to indiscriminate
shelling and air strikes on civilian targets more and more. It apparently does
not care about the consequences and considers anyone in enemy territory a
legitimate target.

A destroyed home in Fallujah after a government air raid. The security forces have increased its indiscriminate shelling and air strikes on areas under insurgent control since June with little concern for the civilian casualties (EPA/STR)

Civilian Deaths By
Government Shelling In Anbar In 2014

Date

Dead

Wounded

Jan 1-7

8

144

Jan 8-14

8

37

Jan 15-21

17

30

Jan 22-28

44

205

Jan 29-31

8

30

JAN

85

446

Feb 1-7

15

40

Feb 8-14

19

88

Feb 15-21

14

34

Feb 22-28

13

42

FEB

61

204

Mar 1-7

31

78

Mar 8-14

22

56

Mar 15-21

36

108

Mar 22-27

17

82

Mar 28-31

16

81

MAR

122

405

Apr 1-7

13

44

Apr 8-14

40

119

Apr 15-21

56

127

Apr 22-28

26

49

Apr 29-30

5

20

APR

140

359

May 1-7

53

97

May 8-14

76

152

May 15-21

28

42

May 22-28

49

101

May 29-31

14

28

MAY

220

420

Jun 1-7

85

144

Jun 8-14

23

46

Jun 15-21

21

35

Jun 22-28

32

59

Jun 29-30

9

14

JUN

170

298

Jul 1-7

42

54

Jul 8-14

43

137

Jul 15-21

68

204

Jul 22-28

38

117

Jul 29-31

10

41

JUL

201

553

TOTAL

999

2,685

Civilian Deaths By
Government Shelling In Salahaddin In July 2014

Date

Dead

Wounded

Jul 8-14

3

16

Jul 29-31

12

4

TOTAL

15

20

Civilian Deaths By
Government Air Strikes In July 2014

Date

Location

Dead

Wounded

Jul 1-7

Ninewa

2

66

Salahaddin

38

26

Jul 8-14

Anbar

10

-

Diyala

3

-

Ninewa

15

28

Salahaddin

2

15

Jul 15-21

Anbar

-

25

Ninewa

5

30

Salahaddin

4

-

Jul 22-28

Anbar

5

12

Ninewa

15

35

Salahaddin

25

22

Jul 29-31

Ninewa

-

9

Salahaddin

-

17

TOTAL

124

285

As security has deteriorated the government has come to rely upon militias like Asaib Ahl Al-Haq the League of the Righteous more and more. Many of these armed groups have been blamed for sectarian killings of Sunnis in Baghdad and the surrounding areas (Reuters)

Baghdad is relying upon militias more and more since
fighting started in Anbar. One result is that groups like the League of the
Righteous have been accused of kidnapping and murdering Sunnis in Baghdad.
There has been a decided increase in bodies being dumped in the capital in
recent months as a result. In April there 28 bodies found, going up to 42 in
May, 44 in June, and 98 in July. Human
Rights Watch (HRW) documented cases of militias going after Sunni men, accusing
them of being insurgents and murdering them not only in Baghdad, but in Diyala
and Babil as well. On July
9 for instance, 53 bodies were found in Khamisiya north of Hillah. A
government official and a brother of one of the victims told HRW that the
League of the Righteous kidnapped these men on June 11, killed them, and then
left their bodies. The League, Hezbollah Brigades, and the Badr Brigade have
allegedly been given responsibility by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to police
the Baghdad belts and route out insurgent cells. The result is the return of
these sectarian killings.

2 comments:

Anonymous
said...

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your well informed post.I knew for relatives and friends in Iraq (in the Lower South and Baghdad) that the Maliki death squads such as the league of the righteous have been killing Shias as well, specially women and men with education degrees (women) and holding security positions (men), but always is reported that the League... is just killing Sunnis.do you have any information regarding fighting between Sadrist and the League...? The League and alBader are cooperating at high security level, what about the cooperation between the League... and the peace brigades?Why the Obama administration is silent before the daily killings of those Maliki death squads?

Sadr still considers Asaib Ahl Al-Haq as a breakaway rebel faction. He has continuously attacked them verbally for years now and recently. The two groups used to get into gunfights in Baghdad but that hasn't happened for a while. Given the security situation there's no reason for them to fight, but they do keep up the verbal jabs. Badr and AAH are both aligned with Maliki right now so that explains their cooperation, plus they are being organized and armed by Iran.

Iraq History Timeline

About Me

Musings On Iraq was started in 2008 to explain the political, economic, security and cultural situation in Iraq via original articles and interviews. I have written for the Jamestown Foundation, Tom Ricks’ Best Defense at Foreign Policy and the Daily Beast, and was responsible for a chapter in the book Volatile Landscape: Iraq And Its Insurgent Movements. My work has been published in Iraq via NRT, AK News, Al-Mada, Sotaliraq, All Iraq News, and Ur News all in Iraq. I was interviewed on BBC Radio 5, Radio Sputnik, CCTV and TRT World News TV, and have appeared in CNN, the Christian Science Monitor, The National, Columbia Journalism Review, Mother Jones, PBS’ Frontline, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Institute for the Study of War, Radio Free Iraq, Rudaw, and others. I have also been cited in Iraq From war To A New Authoritarianism by Toby Dodge, Imagining the Nation Nationalism, Sectarianism and Socio-Political Conflict in Iraq by Harith al-Qarawee, ISIS Inside the Army of Terror by Michael Weiss and Hassan Hassahn, The Rise of the Islamic State by Patrick Cocburn, and others. If you wish to contact me personally my email is: motown67@aol.com